CVE-2009-4387 in Password Manager Pro6.1
Summary
by MITRE
The cross-site scripting (XSS) protection mechanism in ShowInContentAreaAction.do in ManageEngine Password Manager Pro (PMP) before 6.1 Build 6104 uses case-sensitive checks for malicious inputs, which allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchtext parameter and other unspecified inputs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4387 resides within ManageEngine Password Manager Pro version 6.1 Build 6104 and earlier, specifically affecting the ShowInContentAreaAction.do component. This weakness represents a critical flaw in the application's security architecture that undermines its intended cross-site scripting protection mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from a fundamental design flaw in how the system processes user inputs, particularly those submitted through the searchtext parameter and other unspecified input vectors. The implementation fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to bypass the application's built-in security controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the case-sensitive nature of the XSS protection checks implemented within the ShowInContentAreaAction.do functionality. When the application processes user-supplied data, it performs validation using case-sensitive comparisons that can be easily circumvented by attackers who understand the underlying implementation details. This approach creates a false sense of security since the protection mechanism only recognizes specific character casing patterns, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts using different casing combinations that would otherwise be flagged by a proper implementation. The vulnerability specifically affects the searchtext parameter but extends to other unspecified input fields, indicating a systemic issue with how the application handles user input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. This capability enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive information managed by the password manager. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of Password Manager Pro installations, as the flaw exists at the core application logic level rather than being restricted to specific user roles or privileges. Successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the password management infrastructure, potentially exposing thousands of user credentials and sensitive organizational data.
Organizations using ManageEngine Password Manager Pro versions prior to 6.1 Build 6104 face significant risk exposure due to this vulnerability, which aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS). The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate security best practices established by OWASP and other industry standards. The case-sensitive approach to XSS protection represents a design flaw that could be classified as CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) or CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output). Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to version 6.1 Build 6104 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation, web application firewalls, and enhanced monitoring of user inputs should be deployed as temporary mitigations until the official patch is applied. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar implementation flaws in other applications within the organization's infrastructure.